Winston-Salem names new police chief

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The City of Winston-Salem has selected its new police chief.

City Manager Lee Garrity announced Friday that Barry D. Rountree will serve as the city's next Chief of Police.

The 49-year-old assistant police chief, who has been with the Winston-Salem Police Department for 25 years, will assume his duties on June 30 upon Chief Scott Cunningham's retirement.

Rountree’s annual salary will be $122,000.

"I am very pleased with the level of feedback that I have received from citizens and police employees regarding our candidates," Garrity said in a news release. "After careful deliberation of all aspects of the chief’s job, I have determined that Assistant Chief Rountree is the best candidate to assume this major responsibility for our community."

Rountree says his immediate priorities will be to meet with department employees, local elected officials and community leaders to hear their concerns and start working to address those concerns.

"Community relationships I think that is one of the most important things I will be tasked with as far as bringing the community together," Roundtree said.